Skip to content
Jessica SoninoRealtor® · The Bograd Team

Miami-Dade County

Coral Gables

A planned 1920s city of Mediterranean Revival architecture, tree-lined avenues and Biscayne Bay canals.
Search Coral GablesBook a consultation

Coral Gables is a planned city of Mediterranean Revival architecture and tree-lined avenues, with its own city services, about seven miles southwest of downtown Miami. Developer George Merrick created it during the 1920s Florida land boom, it incorporated on April 29, 1925, and the City Beautiful movement shaped the layout.

The city’s architecture is almost entirely Mediterranean Revival, a style mandated in the original plan. Miracle Mile is the main commercial street, the Biltmore Hotel opened in 1926, the Venetian Pool dates to 1923, and the University of Miami campus sits within the city.

Buying here comes with a few local checks: historic review, the city’s short-term rental rule, association approval in the gated waterfront communities, flood zones and Florida’s condo safety rules.

What the homes are like.

A general picture of what you’ll find here. For current availability and prices, just ask me.

  • Mediterranean Revival and historic homes

    Coral Gables was built to a single architectural vision, and Mediterranean Revival is the dominant style, with themed villages from the 1920s expanding that vision through different architectural influences. The city passed its first historic preservation ordinance in 1973 and maintains a Registry of Historic Places. For buyers, the age, condition and designation of a house usually matter as much as its size, so ask early whether a home is designated and what renovation work has been permitted.

  • Gated waterfront communities

    Gables Estates is a gated community along Biscayne Bay where most lots have waterfront access and many have private docks, as reported by the Coral Gables Gazette in August 2025. Buyers there must secure approval from Gables Estates Club Inc. before closing. Other guard-gated waterfront communities, such as Cocoplum, have their own association rules, so read them before you make an offer.

  • Condominiums and the Merrick Park area

    Condominium and apartment options include residences that opened in 2017 across from the Shops at Merrick Park, an open-air center with Mediterranean-inspired design that opened in 2002. Condo pricing here generally runs well below the gated waterfront homes, and it varies with building age, amenities and association costs.

What daily life looks like.

What there is to do around here, from beaches and parks to dining, culture and getting around.

  • Miracle Mile and shopping

    Miracle Mile is the city’s main commercial artery, a long, narrow business district that dates to the 1920s plan, and the Shops at Merrick Park, which opened in 2002, adds an open-air shopping center with Mediterranean-inspired design.

  • Landmarks, recreation and the university

    The Venetian Pool opened in 1923 in a former coral rock quarry and is fed by spring water, with waterfalls and grottos. The city operates it as a public facility with an admission fee, with a lower rate for Coral Gables residents. The Miami Biltmore Hotel and golf course opened in 1926, the University of Miami campus sits inside the city, and Matheson Hammock Park is another local attraction.

  • Getting around

    Metrorail serves Coral Gables, and a free city trolley runs along Ponce de León Boulevard. The trolley schedule, routes and service days change over time, so check the city’s current information against your own routine.

Before you commit.

These are notes for buyers, renters and sellers. Rules and costs change, so I’d always confirm the current details for any specific property.

  • Historic designation and design review

    Coral Gables runs a historic preservation program through its Historical Resources and Cultural Arts Department. The city offers local historic designation, a Certificate of Appropriateness process for alterations to designated properties, Historic Preservation Board meetings and Board of Architects plan reviews, plus an application for ad valorem tax abatement for historic property owners. Ask whether a house is designated, and speak with the city’s historic preservation staff before planning exterior work.

  • Short-term rental rules

    The City of Coral Gables says rental agreements in its single-family and multifamily residential areas must be for a minimum of six months, with an exception for designated historic bed-and-breakfast establishments, and that noncompliant rentals may face fines and code enforcement. A city notice dated August 12, 2026 restates the rule, so do not plan on nightly rentals in a residential area without confirming the current rule with the city.

  • Gated communities, canals and flood checks

    Gated enclaves can require association or club approval before closing, so read the governing documents and the approval timeline before you make an offer. Waterfront homes also raise questions about seawalls, docks and flood zones. Miami-Dade County provides an interactive flood zone map that you can search by address or folio number, plus a flood zone hotline, and your insurance agent can quote the specific property.

  • Condo documents and the safety rules

    For condominium purchases, Florida’s resale statute (section 718.503) says the seller provides documents such as the declaration, bylaws, rules, budget and financial statement, the inspector-prepared summary of any milestone inspection, and the most recent structural integrity reserve study. Those items stem from Florida’s condo safety laws, SB 4-D in 2022, SB 154 in 2023 and later changes including HB 913 in 2025, so review them with your attorney.

Common questions.

What is it like to live in Coral Gables?

Coral Gables is a planned city known for Mediterranean Revival architecture, tree-lined avenues and its own city services. It has a downtown with Miracle Mile, parks and landmarks such as the Venetian Pool, and its housing ranges from historic homes to gated waterfront communities.

Why is Coral Gables called the City Beautiful?

Developer George Merrick planned the city in the 1920s in keeping with the City Beautiful movement, with a Mediterranean Revival style mandated in the original plan, and it is still known as the City Beautiful.

Can I Airbnb a house or condo in Coral Gables?

Generally not in residential areas. The city says rentals in its single-family and multifamily residential areas must be for at least six months, with an exception for designated historic bed-and-breakfast establishments. Confirm the current rule with the city before you buy for rental income.

Is there public transportation in Coral Gables?

Yes. Metrorail serves the city, and a free trolley runs along Ponce de León Boulevard. Check the city’s current trolley information for routes and service days.

What rules apply to historic homes in Coral Gables?

The city has local historic designation and a Certificate of Appropriateness process for alterations to designated properties, and Board of Architects review also applies to plans. Talk with the city’s historic preservation staff before planning changes.

What is Gables Estates?

Gables Estates is a gated community along Biscayne Bay in Coral Gables where most lots have waterfront access. According to the Coral Gables Gazette in August 2025, buyers must secure approval from Gables Estates Club Inc. before they can purchase.

Is Coral Gables in a flood zone?

Some parts may be, especially near the bay and canals. Check the specific address with Miami-Dade County’s flood zone map and ask an insurance agent for a quote before you commit.

Keep exploring.

Guides to the neighboring areas, each with its own housing, daily life and notes for buyers.
All neighborhood guides

Let’s look at Coral Gables together.

Tell me what you’re looking for and I’ll follow up personally. I’m Jessica Sonino, a Realtor® with The Bograd Team.

Phone or email, whichever you prefer.

Pre-approved for financing

Read how your information is handled in the privacy policy.

Sources

The information here is general and was researched on October 9, 2026, so please verify the details with the city, the association and your attorney.

CallTextHome value